European iPhone and iPad sales threatened as Motorola wins in German court

If you think there’s a legal battle going on in the industry involving Apple, you’re only partly right. Actually, it seems more like a war - Apple is fighting on all fronts against some of the biggest phone makers. And it’s doing pretty well in both its offense and defense, but here’s one little crack that threatens to grow even bigger - Motorola has plenty of patents and its lawsuit against Apple is moving forward in Germany.

The local Mannheim Regional Court ruled that Cupertino has indeed infringed on a Motorola patent regarding "a method for performing a countdown function during a mobile-originated transfer for a packet radio system." This could translate on a ban on iPhone and iPad sales not only in Germany, but across Europe.

The situation is not that grave for Apple, though - the ruling is preliminary and it could only apply to the company’s Irish subsidiary.

The products that are affected by the injunction include iPhone, iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPad, iPad 2, and the iPhone 4S is also possibly a fitting candidate. To further appeal, Apple needs to remove that functionality from their handsets.

actually microsoft started it if u wanna be technical... but its totally fine for moto to ban apple products and limit innovation but its not okay for apple to ban a few out of the countless android phones?

Actually no... apple started the ridiculous lawsuits all across the globe to get Samsung products banned from being sold. Microsoft just wanted a little compensation for someone using their ideas. And I agree with remixfa 100% in that NONE of the Android manufacturers, including Motorola, would've sued Apple at all, had Apple not started this bs. Motorola is giving back to Apple what they're putting Samsung through. Apple is trying to shake the foundation of the entire Android eco-system. Well Google is the father of Android and now owns Motorola, which is the FOUNDER of the cell phone and has more than enough patents to make Apples' life miserable in court for years to come. The Android manufacturers are banning together against Apple. As far as innovation goes... Apple has none. I'll give them the original iPhone (a phone slapped into an iPod), but since then they have been stagnant and are trying to cripple their main competition that's ripping sales away from them every day. Apple has to learn their lesson why starting all this bs was a really bad idea.

you spend enough time throwing crap at people, eventually they will rise up and slap you back. you reap what you sow. I can bet money that NONE of the android manufacturers would have ever sued Apple, had apple not started to act like a jerk and try to be the play ground bully.

You are correct, if you take the statement at it's literal meaning then remixfa is wrong.

But considering that you've had several conversations with remixfa regarding this before, as well as other people... we all know that remix doesn't actually believe Apple was the first to sue other companies.

I said what I meant, and I meant what I said. As far as this CURRENT round of lawsuits, Apple has been the instigator.
They have been suing themselves over minor things for years, for a buck or 2 off each patent. This new round of "Bend or be Banned" lawsuits are from Apple's camp and apple's camp alone. Everything coming back towards them are counter-suits.

Now, come on taco.. say it with me..
"Remix was right, and I was wrong. I should have done research before spouting off and blind attacking him."

I was wrong about HTC being sued by Apple first. Read the timeline from the article. There was lawsuits before Apple started with any lawsuit. Motorola sued Apple first. You said NONE of the android manufacturers would have sued Apple which is incorrect. Motorola did. Nokia also sued Apple first.

More likely they saw that Apple had been selling the iPhone for years by that point and, after repeatedly giving Motorola the finger over its own patents, they decided to sue the s**t out of HTC. So they're like "wait a minute here, Apple wants to sue everyone else for patent infringement but they won't pay a dime to them? Hell, we're taking them out!" And filed their own lawsuit.

Or you could be right. Which would look even worse for Apple, really. "We won't pay a dime for your patents that you worked for decades to obtain, but we'll sure as hell hit you for everything you've got!"

Right now they have a very dedicated following, but I believe it's base has always been people that were rooting for the underdog (Apple way back when) and Apple was a company that had a different image.. sort of do-gooders when everyone was hating on Microsoft.

Well now.. It's Apple that is starting to lose it's shine as a friendly company with the hipster following.

The public really has no clue right now how they are suing and fighting the competition in court instead of with innovation.. I think when the public slowly really GETS what is going on.. Apple will lose much of their following very quickly.

41.hepresearch (unregistered)

I think it is sad that Slim feels that he needs to hide his iPhone... he has not been disrespectful to the Android community like others here, who shall remain nameless.

You do not need to feel embarrassed on my account, Slim. Just because Apple is making some awful business strategy decisions does not mean that your iPhone is a second-class phone that you need to be ashamed of. It will do what it is designed to do, and do it quite well. Android phones and iPhones are designed to fill different needs and styles of use, along with a decent amount of common functionality that consumers have essentially agreed on as standard features. If your iPhone works for you, then it works for you. If it has not done well enough, then you have lots of other options to explore, as well.

Either way, best of luck to you. I have to say it is refreshing to read posts from an iPhone user who is neither arrogant nor stereotypical. +1 for honesty and humility...

12.jacko (unregistered)

it looks like the tide is turning against apple recently...apple only got themselves to blame though, they started all the lawsuits and most importantly started with the banning crap so they deserve whatever happens to them...

The ignorance in this thread is shocking. Lawsuits have been around forever. It's not an Apple exclusive. Also in this particular case Motorola is the aggressor. Realistically all these companies are way to big to get banned. You guys are funny though. Banning is anti competitive unless Apple is getting banned lol

Read above posters saying Apple deserves this because they sued first. That's simply not the case. Guess what everyone sues everyone. As far as banning that was Apple's strategy. They may win or lose but a lawsuit is still one.

@phonearena.
You know, you could make me a mod with banhammer powers. As often as I'm on the boards I could help keep em clean. I promise to be fair and only ban.. well.. taco's 300 alternate accounts he pops back up.

ALL THERE FREAKING PATENTS!! WHICH ARE ALLOT! And if google manages to buy Moto, which they say is mainly for there patents, Apple is going to get the full brunt, if they keep this ridiculous suing on.

Android does have some patents. Yes, motorola was bought mainly for its huge patent shield, which as I have been telling you for months now, will not only be a shield, but eventually a sword against Apple. And if this is any indication, the sword is likely to draw fruity-blood really soon.

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